Piecing Flying Geese

To determine what size of rectangle to cut, add 1/2” to the finished height and width of the Flying Geese unit. Cut two squares the same size as the height of the triangle. For example, for a 1-1/2 x 3” finished Flying Geese unit, cut a 2x3-1/2” rectangle and 2” squares.

Use a quilter’s pencil to mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each square. To prevent the fabric from stretching as you draw the lines, place 220-grit sandpaper under the square.

Note: Instead of drawing a line, you may press the squares in half diagonally.

When you’re using the rectangle and two squares method to make Flying Geese, why do the squares overlap at the upper point of the center triangle?

Once sewn together, this overlap is what creates the seam allowance along the upper edge of the pieced Flying Geese unit.

When you sew the Flying Geese unit into a block, this seam allowance will be taken in, leaving the tip of your triangle intact at the seam line. Without it, the tip of the triangle would be sewn into the seam and you’d have no sharp point at the top of the triangle.